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From my desk
As we prepare to move to our new campus, we are discovering photos and artifacts from the century-plus history of Franklin Cummings Tech. When I see pictures of students working on what we now consider “antique” machines, I realize this was the cutting-edge technology of its time, and that our college has always been innovative in preparing our students with the skills and training needed in the economy at any given time.
With just a few examples, this edition of The Spark reflects our journey as innovative educators over the past century and into the future.
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We are utilizing our under-construction campus building in Nubian Square as a teaching tool, bringing our students to the site and allowing them to observe the installation of the electrical and HVAC systems. Our team continues to build partnerships with Boston high schools to expand the impact of our early college programs, which provide access to affordable college and rapid entry into the workforce for Boston’s students.
We’ve also been reaching out and back to learn about and hear from alumni—both recent grads and those who last stepped foot on campus decades ago. Alums like Javier, an electrical engineering program graduate from the class of '21, whose story is featured below, are fulfilling the mission of our college through their career pursuits while building economic opportunity.
The month of June also brings us Juneteenth, another moment for reflection on history. As we celebrate the freedom of enslaved people in America, we also reflect on the work that still needs to be done to emancipate and elevate everyone in our country. Technical education and skills training are among the most powerful tools to advance equity. Through education, we can help people achieve prosperity and contribute to the economy and society, which is precisely why Franklin Cummings Tech was founded. We appreciate our public and philanthropic supporters, as well as our industry and educational partners, and our dedicated faculty and staff, who together enable us to fulfill our historic mission.
I hope you all enjoy the summer with family and friends.
Sincerely,
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Aisha Francis, PhD
President & CEO
P.S. Did you know that The Spark can now be found on LinkedIn? Get our latest news and updates delivered directly to your newsfeed by subscribing on LinkedIn. Help us spread the word by sharing this good news with someone you think would appreciate it!
| | Time Machinery: 100 Years of Hands-on Trade Education | | |
Our move to Nubian Square is less than a year away. In preparation, we've been cleaning out the basement and uncovering some incredible historical snapshots of 100 years of technical and trade education at Franklin Cummings Tech. These two featured photos demonstrate how, even 100 years ago, students were training on cutting-edge equipment to gain the technical skills required to enter expanding careers in the industrial revolution.
On the left, an operator uses a sophisticated test bench or control panel to measure or calibrate a piece of machinery; a necessary skill in turn-of-the-century factories and laboratories that relied on precise measurement and quality control during the rise of industrial mechanization in the United States.
On the right, students are working on a large, belt-driven machine, which was likely an electric or steam-powered motor that would propel various machines in a factory or on a shop floor, such as the drill on the right side of the structure. The setup highlights the legacy of applicable, hands-on technical skills that Franklin Cummings Tech has offered since 1908.
| | We're Having a Ball! Students Celebrate Academic Success | | |
The end of the academic semester comes with celebration, reflection, and anticipation of the next step in students’ journey to economic advancement. Franklin Cummings Tech students commemorated a successful semester with two aptly named celebrations to build their network, award successes, and look to the future.
The Opticianry Department hosted the 2025 Eye Ball at Franklin Cummings Tech, hosted in partnership with the Opticianry Association of Massachusetts (OAM). The annual celebration of the Opticianry program welcomed corporate partners, industry leaders, OAM members, and the many students and alumni of the Opticianry associate degree program.
| | Franklin Cummings Tech offers the only Opticianry associate degree in Massachusetts, providing an affordable, career-focused program with a 95% job placement rate. | | |
This year’s Eye Ball was sponsored by GoodVision USA, whose chief executive, Matt Gianino, served as the keynote speaker. Matt shared his insights on the growing demand for opticians as the United States’ population ages, and the unique blend of craftsmanship and fashion required to service customers with trendy and fitting eyewear.
The Construction Management (CM) program at Franklin Cummings Tech was hosting its own social event – the Wrecking Ball!
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The college’s inaugural Wrecking Ball connected students from the CM program to industry partners, members from the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, and Franklin Cummings Tech alumni.
This year’s event unveiled the first-ever presentation of the Tuplin Award, named after the college’s long-serving program chair, and FC Tech alum Leslie Tuplin.
The new award will be presented each year at future Wrecking Balls to the Construction Management student who best embodies the scholarship and leadership qualities exemplified by Professor Tuplin.
| | | Touring the New Campus Months before Completion | | Students from the college’s Practical Electricity certificate program recently visited the site of our new campus at 1011 Harrison Ave. to integrate the electrical subcontracting work with the curriculum. During the students’ working visit, the team from contractor Dellbrook/One Way gave them a tour of the wiring and electrical work being installed by KBMac happening at the building.
| | “The students were excited to see classroom theory in the real world.”
Rui Gomes, chair of the Practical Electricity program. | |  | The specially designed site visit allowed students to experience how their classroom studies and hands-on curriculum come together in a built environment, which happens to be their future campus.
This visit was part of a working series that students in many of our programs are making to the site.
| | Would you like to join a campus tour? | | |
Franklin Cummings Tech is hosting behind-the-scenes construction tours of our new campus in Nubian Square.
The tours have limited capacity – so sign up now for one of the dates below!
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- Thursday, July 10, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30am
- Friday, July 11, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30 am
- Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30am
- Thursday, July 24, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30am
- Thursday, July 31, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30am
- Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 9:30am - 10:30am
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Fine-tuning his education journey
Alumni Spotlight: Javier Torres
| | | | Javier Torres graduated from high school in central Massachusetts, knowing he wanted to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. However, between working full-time to support his family and living outside of Boston, it was challenging to find a flexible and affordable program that aligned with his academic journey.
After a couple of unsuccessful classes at other community and technical colleges, Javier learned about the then-new electrical engineering program offered through a partnership with Franklin Cummings Tech, which had assumed the program from Suffolk University. | | | He spoke with a Franklin Cummings Tech professor about the possibility of enrolling and things moved quickly from there.
Read Javier's full story on our Alumni Success Stories page. | | Pathways to Higher Education with our Premiere Partners | |
Expanding pathways to postsecondary education ensures that every student has the opportunity to pursue their passion. Often, the decision to attend college is influenced by the resources available at the K-12 level.
| | | | We are excited to announce several new Premiere Partners this month: Brooke Charter Schools, Fenway High School, New Mission High School, and TechBoston Academy. These institutions join Franklin Cummings Tech in a partnership that guarantees scholarships, free classes, exclusive events, and personalized academic and coaching to ensure the success of our shared students. | | | | Last year, students from Premiere Partner institutions comprised 20% of our incoming student body, proving that inventive and intentional community partnership yields strong results. Join us in welcoming these educational partners who will collectively connect students to career opportunities. | | Built for the Job: Co-ops and Apprenticeships in Action | | |
Students, employers, supporters, and partners gathered on campus to discuss co-ops and apprenticeships at our Annual Meeting on June 12. We thank Undersecretary of Labor, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler for joining us to celebrate the first program in the Commonwealth combining apprenticeships with associate degrees.
Student speaker and Co-Op participant Nicholas Rebaza, Automotive Technology '26, illustrated how these programs open doors to success by sharing his journey from dropping out of a four-year university to thriving at FC Tech thanks to his course work, professors, Success Coaches, and a co-op he landed with Village Automotive Group through the FC Tech Career and Co-op Division.
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Innovation Fund Challenge
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Will you support the student journey by joining our Innovation Fund Challenge? In response to the generosity of an anonymous foundation, all gifts, of any size, made by June 30 will be matched one-to-one.
The Innovation Fund has been launched to invest in the areas that will help us further expand and achieve our mission: scholarships for students, career pathways support, student success priorities, and more.
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Plug into The Spark on LinkedIn | | Did you know that The Spark can now be found on LinkedIn? Get our latest news and updates delivered directly to your newsfeed by subscribing on LinkedIn. | | Follow Franklin Cummings Tech on social | | | | |
